Since his high-profile transfer from Benfica to Liverpool, Darwin Núñez has faced significant criticism for his frequent missed opportunities in front of goal. According to The Times journalist Paul Joyce, members of Liverpool’s recruitment team had initially favored signing a different forward. However, then-manager Jürgen Klopp—who enjoyed considerable success over 489 matches at the club and now serves as Red Bull’s Global Sports Director—insisted on securing the Uruguayan striker for £85 million, confident in his potential
While Darwin Núñez has certainly found the back of the net—scoring 40 goals in 143 appearances for Liverpool—there’s a prevailing belief that his tally should be significantly higher, given the volume of chances created for him.
When compared to the attacking output of Manchester City’s Erling Haaland or his Liverpool teammate Mohamed Salah—both widely regarded as among the world’s elite—it becomes clear that Núñez has not fully lived up to his potential.
His time at Liverpool so far has been inconsistent. At 26, the Uruguayan arrived from Portugal with the raw attributes to become one of the game’s most feared strikers. However, his lack of composure in crucial goal-scoring moments has stood out as a recurring issue.
This growing trend of missed clear-cut chances has begun to frustrate sections of the Anfield crowd—supporters who have consistently backed him, but are now starting to see their patience tested by the underwhelming finishing of a player once touted as a world-class prospect.
